Cricket: 'Sloppy' NZ keen to make amends

England fielders show how catches win matches but Hesson's men can atone for shortcomings in Hamilton.

Sponsor message.

Video will play in

Play now

Don't auto play

Never auto play

Luke Wright called it "an unbelievable catch"; it was certainly the moment which encapsulated the gulf New Zealand must close in Hamilton when they face England in the second T20 tomorrow night.

When Brendon McCullum's shot slewed off his bat high to backward point in the fifth over of their chase for 215, Eoin Morgan scampered back, his eyes never left the ball and he pulled off a terrific catch over his shoulder.

England held everything; New Zealand butterfingers spilled five chances, albeit two difficult ones, balanced by two bad misses and one in between.

"We were sloppy," New Zealand coach Mike Hesson said of the fielding, usually the one banker in New Zealand's hot-and-cold cricket skill set. That said, he has no doubt the gulf between the teams in England's 40-run win to start the ANZ international series can be rectified in the short turnaround.

"The guys play enough T20 to realise you can't dwell too much on what happened.

We would have liked to start with a win and a better performance. Tuesday becomes our focus pretty quickly."

New Zealand's bowlers failed to get their lengths right and Eden Park is unforgiving - as Seddon Park will be - if they fluff their lines.

England had talked about the importance of out-fielding New Zealand. Morgan's catch put extra pep in England's step. They recognised how significant it was, considering McCullum's destructive capabilities in the shortest game.

"If that goes down, who knows what could have happened. It was a massive moment in the game," allrounder Wright said.